Aeroplane.



M. PERROTTA.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY12, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

'masmsm 5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

m m W x Y .QY M ,wm mm mm h m m w 4m Maia M I A \mw E %m m -9 m Y M @w m m 8 WRQQ WP WL M. PERROTTA.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

v x n.

INVENTORQ Mat'haParrmtTa,

ATTORN EYS M. PERROTTA.

AEROPLANE APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR Mam-1a P Erruita,

WITNESSES ffmjm w O04 BY d ga w 1* 2 ATTORNEYS M. PERROTTA.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mswam lNVENTOR'v MaL ha Perrutta ATTORNEYS M. PERROTTA.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION IIILED JULY 12, 1013.

Patented June 9, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

lmwAsm m K'DN www MATTIA PERROTTA, OF NEWARK, JERSEY.

AEROPLANE.

LUBQAGW,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed July 12, 1913. Serial No. 778,675.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATTIA PERROTTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and I use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference, generally, to improvements in flying machines or aeroplanes; an'd, the present invention has for its I principalobject to provide a novel and simple aeroplane-construction comprising a frame-work carrying a main body, preferably of cigar-shape, and carrying the motor and main propeller, and various steering 1 and aileron-operating-mechanism, as well as the operator or operators.

The invention has for its further object to provide in connection with the main frame-work and the main body, main planes of peculiar configuration and extending lat erally in pairs from each side of the main body and near the front end thereof; and, the invention has for its further object to provide in connection with the frame-work and the main planes mentioned, forwardly extending and smaller auxiliary frames which carry small auxiliary planes, and oscillatory planes for the purpose of raising or lowering the flying machine.

In addition to the above stated objects, the invention has for a further object to provide in connection with the main framework and the main body, at the rear end of the main body, laterally extending finlike smaller auxiliary planes, having always a fixed relation to the main body, and oscillatory auxiliary frames and planes arranged at the sides of said fin-like auxiliary planes, for raising and lowering the flying machine,'- and the said last-mentioned" oscillatory auxiliary planes cooperating with the oscillatory raising and lowering planes at the front of the main planes, and all said raising and lowering planes being worked by mechanism from a single-lever under the control of the Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with the frame-work and the main planes, a novel arrangement and novel construction of small pivoted ailerons, and mechanism for operating and setting the same, for the purpose of bringing the main planes, when flying from a horizontal plane, into any other plane or planes having angular relation to the said horizontal plane; and, all of the various devices and parts being arranged with a view of producing a simple, neat and durable construction, as well as a compact assembled relation of the various parts, so as to provide a light and etficiently constructed flying machine or aeroplane, and an apparatus which can be readily raised and lowered and controlled, while in flight, and the directions of the floating movements of the flying machine being under the most complete control of the operator.

The invention has for its further purpose to provide in connection with the steering or rudder-operatingmechanism, as well as with the mechanism for operating and setting the ailerons, suitable angle-indicating devices which are under observation of the operator and are easily read, so that the time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the present invention. 1

With the various objects of the present invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel flying machine or aeroplane hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the de tails of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more'fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flying machine or aeroplane showing one embodiment V of the principles of the present invention;

view of the same, one side of the flying machine, however,being shown broken away; and Fig. 3 is a front view of the flying machine. Fig. 4 is a detail representation of a portion of the frame-work of the flying machine, showing in connection therewith, in side-elevation, the mechanism for actuating the various oscillatory raising and lowering planes and their frame-work, the various parts being represented diagrammatically, and the various planes being shown in their normal relations when the flying machine is floating in a horizontal plane; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same devices, the raising and lowering planes being set angularly for raising the flying machine. Fig. 6 is a detail view, looking from the rear to the front of the flying machine, of portions of the main framework, and the side-ailerons, and a means for carrying the ailerons into angular relation, the parts being represented in heavy lines in their normal initial positions, but, being represented also in dotted outline in one of their operated positions, with the ailerons indicated in their angular positions. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical plan view of a part of the rudder-steering mechanism, and enginedriven main propeller-shaft and its propeller, a pair of auxiliary propeller-shafts and a propeller connected with each auxiliary shaft, and means for driving said auxiliary propeller-shaft from and simultaneously with the main propeller-shaft.

Fig. 2 is a plan Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a suitable number of longitudinally extending tie-rods which are connected at the front end-portion of the flying machine by means of a suitably formed tubular member, as 2, which also forms a suitable bearing in which is rotatably mounted the main propeller-shaft 3, driven from an'engine 4, and provided with a main propeller 5. At their rear end-portions, the said longitudinally extending tie-rods 1 terminate and are suitably connected with and secured to a suitably formed rudder carrying element or member, as 6, said element or member 6 being provided with a vertically disposed rod 7 with which-are pivotally connected the projections or fingers 9 of a rudder 8. The said longitudinally extending tie-rods 1 are. all suitabl bent and curved, and suitably secured at intervals by means of lateral ring-shaped elements 10, in such a manner, that the main frame-work which is thus produced will be of a general cigarshaped conformation. Over this framework is suitably stretched and secured a covering 11 of canvas, silk, or any other suitable material, which prox'ides he main body of the top and partiallydown the sides, as at 12. Encircling the said main body and its frame-work is an arrangement of other ringshaped elements 13 and 14 to which are secured the frames of the main planes to be presently more fully described. Extending downwardly from the ring-shaped element 13 is a series of vertical rods 15,'connected at their lower free end-portions by a laterally extending tie-bar 16. The front standar thus produced, may be strengthened, as shown, by an arrangement of crossed tierods 17. The rear end-portion of the main body has suitably connected-{therewith and secured to some of said previously-mentioned main tie-rods 1, downwardly extending rods, as 18, which are connected at their lower free end-portions by a laterally extending tie-bar 19, thus providin a rear standard which may also be strengt ened by an arrangement of crossed tie-rods, not here shown, and in the manner of the tie-rods 17 the flying machine, but which is left open at shown in connection with the front standard of the flying machine. The said front and rear standards are suitably tied by means of curved longitudinal extending tie-rods 20,

which are also suitably connected with the ring-shaped element 14. Suitably secured to the said laterally extending tie-bars 16 and 19 of the respective front and rear standards are bearing-frames 21, the lowerendportions of which are slotted, as at 22. Slidably arranged between the side-arms of said frames 21 are suitably formed journal-carrying members 25, each member 25 being provided with a journal 26 and a wheel 27. The end-portions of the said journals extend into and are movably arranged in the respective slots 22 of the bearing-frames 21, and the journal-carrying members 25 are retained in their operative connection with their respective bearing-frames 21 by means of the spring-encircled rods 28, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawings. This spring-supported arrangement of the wheels gives an easy movement to the machine while running upon the ground, and serves as a'shock-absorber when landing.

The previously mentioned rudder 8, as

will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, comprises a suit ably-shaped frame 30, with which the projections or fingers 9' are connected, said frame having a covering 31 of canvas, silk,

or other suitable material, and extending on opposite sides of said frame 30 and covering 31 are laterally projecting and longitu-.

dinally extendingfins, as 32,awhich help to cut the air, when the rudder is swung sidewise, so as to offer less resistance to the movement of the rudder when the latter is moved to either side, and offering no resistance to the longitudinal movement of 'as at 39. The rearwardly located part of the marginal frame-piece is formed with a straight part 40 and a concave-convexly curved portion 41, whereby a frame is provided which is of greater width at the side of and near the cigar-shaped main body of the flying machine, than at its end farthest away from said body. Over these frames, thus produced, are suitably stretched and secured a covering 42 of canvas, silk, or anv other suitable material, which provides the main planes of the flying machine. Each main plane-carrying frame is also strengthened by an arrangement of tie-rods or bars,

as 43 and 44, and the frame-work of the said main planes upon each side of the main body of the flyingmachine are connected by an arrangement of vertical stanchions or con-. necting posts 45, suitably stiffened by an arrangement of crossed braces or wires 46.

Suitably pivoted to each end-post or stanchion of each pair of connected main planes is an aileron. Each aileron, as will be seen more particularly from Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, consists of a pair of segmental frames 47, suitably connected by short bars 48, the said segmental frames 47'bein'g also suitably covered by coverings 49 of canvas, silk or the like, whereby each aileron has two small segmental-and normally vertically placed planes. Each pair of such segmental planes are also suitably connected by a small laterally extending air-deflecting plane 50.

Tn order to angularly swing the ailerons, the spindles 51 of theronneeted aileronframes are each provided with oppositely extending arms, as 52, see Fig. 6, and attached to the end-portions of the said arms 52 are flexible connections or cords 53, which are likewise attached at their opposite ends to oppositely extending arms 54 connected with a shaft or spindle 55 located within the cigar shaped main body of the flying machine. That the said shaft or spindle 55 may be properly operated, there is suitably secured upon said shaft, a crank 56, or other suitable operating means, which is provided with a pointer or index-hand 57 for indicating upon a graduated dial, as,58, or other suitable angle-indicating means,

the angular arrangement of the aileronplanes, said dial being in close proximity to the seat of the operator within the body of the flying machine, so that the mechanism may be readily operated and that the indi" cation upon the dial 58 is easily read.

Connected with and extending downwardly from the marginal frame-pieces 38 of the lower main planes located upon each side of the cigar-shaped main body of the flying machine are the circularly formed frame-members 59, to which and said lower marginal frame-pieces 38 are suitably secured the forwardly and upwardly extending members 60 and'61, said members 60 and 61 being respectively connected by means of laterally extending tie-rods 62 and 68, and the members 60 and 61 being also suitably trussed by means of a suitable arrangement of tie-rods 64.

Mounted upon each forwardly and upwardly extending trussed frame-work thus produced is an auxiliary frame-Work carrying a series ofsmall planes and an oscillatory raising and lowering plane, each auxiliary framework consisting of lower and upper rectangular frames 65 and 66, joined by vertical posts 67 and the connecting bars 67, the lower and upper rectangular frames 65" and 66 being also connected, respectively, with the frame-piece 38 of the upper main plane by suitable tie rods 68. As shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the connecting bars 67 are provided with bearings 69 in which are oscillatorily mounted suitable shafts 70, each shaft 70 carrying'a frame-work 71, covered with canvas, silk, or the like, and providing the oscillatory raising and lowering planes. The

lower and upper rectangular frames 65 and 66 are also provided with coverings of canvas, silk, or the like, as 72, thus providing a pair of small fixed frames for catching the air-currents, and between which the oscillatory raising and lowering planes are arranged. Connected with and extending forwardly from the'respective vertical posts 67 are suitably shaped, preferably in the form of triangles, small air current directing vanes 72, for more readily directing the aircurrents into the spaces between the respective fixed small planes 72, as will be clearly evident.

Connected with the shafts 70 are crankarms 73, and suitably mounted in the main body of the flying machine is a frame-work 74, with which is pivotallyconnected, as at 75, a lever 76. The. lower end-portion of. this lever 76 is operatively connected with a slide-rod or bar 77, slidably mounted in guides, as 78, suitably carried by the frame-work 74. Oscillatorily mounted in bearings, as 7 8, connected with some of the. front vertical stanchions or connecting posts 45 of each pair of main planes, is a long rod or shaft 7 9, upon which is suitably secured a crank-arm 80, said crank-arm 80 having a slotted portion, as 81, working upon a pin or projection 82 of a post 83 with which the slide-rod or bar 77 is provided. At or near the free end-portions of the rod or shaft 79, the latter has fixed thereon suitable crank-. arms 84, and pivotally connected with each crank-arm 84,, as'at 85, is a link 86, said links being pivotally connected at their opposite end-portions, as at 87, with the previouslymentioned crank-arms 73 of the respective shafts 70, for angularly setting the raising and lowering planes when the lever 76 is moved in a forward or backward direction, as will be clearly evident. Mounted upon the said frame-work 74- is an angleindicating device, as 88, and a fixed bar 89, upon which is pivotally mounted, as at 90-, an arm 91 provided with aforwardly extending index-finger or pointer 92 which registers with the graduated indicator 88. The lower end-portion of this arm 91 is slotted, as at .93, and is in operative engagement with a pin 94 upon the slide-rod or bar 77 Wh816- by the movement of .the latter moves the arm 91 and causes its index-finger or pointer 92- to register upon the indicator 88, the angles at which the forward raising and lowering planes are set.

' vEncircling the rear end-portion of the previously mentioned main body and its frame-work is another arrangement of ringshaped elements 95 and 96 with which are suitably connected the upper and lower frames 97 and 98, preferably of segmental configuration, said frames 97 and 98- being provided with vertical strengthening bars or rods 99, and suitable coverings of canvas,

, silk, or the like, whereby upper andlower balancing fins 100 and 101 are provided. Rigidly connected with said ringshaped elements 95 and 96, upon each side of the rear end-portion of the said main body, are upper and lower auxiliary frames, as102 and 103, of the peculiar marginal configuration shown, each pair of upper and lower frames being suitably connected by vertical stanchions or posts 104, and the said frames 102 and 103 having coverings 105- of canvas,

whereby at the tail-end of there is provided upon body a pair of fixed silk, or the like, the flying machine. each side of its main balancing planes arranged in pairs, one

. connected, as at 109, a rod 110. The opposite end of this rod 110 ispivotally connectplane above the other. Oscillatorily mounted in bearings, as 106, connected with the frame-work of said fixed balancing planes, is

a shaft or spindle 107 which extends directly across the main body of the flying machine, said shaft or spindle 107 being provided upon that portion within the main body with a crank-arm 108 to which is pivotally ed with the rear end of the slide-rod or bar 77, whereby, when the lever 76 is operated, the said shaft or spindle 407 will also be covering 112 of canvas, silk, or the like,

whereby the "flying machine is provided upon each side of the rear portion of its main body with a plurality of small triangular raising and lowering planes, which are angularly set with the movement of the shaft 107, and are worked by the operator,

simultaneously with the raising and lowering plane located in front of the main planes.

Near the operator in the .front portion of the'main body of the flying machine is a suitably located steering rod 113 provided upon its upper end-portion with a steering .wheel ,114. The said steering rod 113 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending members 115 to which are attached the end portions of flexible connections 116 which extend rearwardly through the main body of the flying machine, and have their other free end-portions secured to members 117 which extend in opposite directions and are suitably connected with one of the projections or fingers 9 of the rudder 8, for operating the rudder, as will be clearly understood. Suitably connected with the said steering wheel 114 is a downwardly extending arm 118 which is provided at its lower end-portion with an angular index, as 119, which registers with a suitable dial, as 120, to enable the operator to easily set the rudder at any desired angle.

Suitably disposed between each pair of the previously mentioned main planes, and

rotatably'arranged in suitablebearings 120 secured to some of the vertical stanchions or connecting posts 45, are auxiliary shafts or spindles 121 provided at their rear endportions with propellers 122. Each shaft or spindle 121 has a sprocket-wheel 123, the

main propeller-shaft 3, being also provided .with sprocket wheels 124, and link-chains 125' being arranged on the respective sprocket-wheels 123 and 124, substantially as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and by means of which the rotary motion of the main shaft 3 is conveyed to said auxiliary shafts 121 for driving the propellers 122 simultaneously with the main propeller 5. The lower auxiliary frames-103 may also be stifi'ened by an arrangement of staying rods 126 and 127 connected with said frame 103 and the rear standard of the flyingmachine;

and staying wires 128, 129 and 130, and

turn-buckles 131, may also be employed between the said rear standard and the rudder carrying element or member 6, as clearly represented in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

I am aware, that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said bounded by a frame-work parts, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claim which are appended to the said specification. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor doI confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. In a flying machine, a main body, and main'planes extending laterally on opposite sides of said main body, each plane being having a straight marginal edge atthe front, a convexly curved edge at the end, and a straight part and concavo-convexly curved edge-portion at the rear, so as to provide a main plane of /greater width near the main body than at the outer free end-portion of the plane.

2. Ina flying machine, a main body, and main planes extending laterally on opposite sides of said main body, each plane being bounded by a frame-work having a straight marginal edge at the front, a convexlycurved edge at the end, and a straight part and concavo-convexly curved edge-portion at the rear, so as to provide a main plane of greater width near the main body than at the outer free end-portion of the plane, and each main plane being upwardly convexed so as to dip from its edge toward its rear edge.

3. In a flying machine, a main body, and a pair of main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, each plane being bounded by a frame-work having a straight marginal edge at the front, a convexly curved edge at the end, and a straight part and concavo convexly curved edge-portion at the rear, so as to provide main planes of greater width near the main body than at the outer free end-portions of the planes.

4:. In a flyingmachine, a main body, and a pair of main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, each plane being bounded by a frame-work having a straight marginal edge .at the front, a convexly curved edge at the end, and a straight part and concavo-convexly curved edge-portion at the rear, so as to provide main planes of greater width near the main body than at the outer free end-portions of the planes, and each main plane being upwardly .con-

vexed so as to dip from its front edge toward its rear edge.

5. In a flying machine, a main body, and a pair of main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, a trussed frame-work connected with and extending forwardly from each pair of said main planes, a series of small and immovably fixed planes mounted upon each trussed frame-work, and a raising and lowering plane oscillatorily mounted between the planes of each series of said small and immovably fixed planes.

6. In a flying machine, a main body, and a pair of main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, each plane being bounded by a frame-work having a straight marginal edge at the front, a convexly curved edge 7 at the end, and a straight part and concavoconvexly curved edge-portion at the rear, so as to provide main planes of greater width near the main body than at the outer free end-portions of the planes, a trussed frame-work connected with and extending forwardly from each pair of said main planes, and an oscillatory raising and lowering plane mounted upon each trussed framework.

7. In a flying machine, a main body, and a pair of main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, each plane being bounded by a frame-work having a straight marginal edge at the front, a convexly curved edge at the end, and a straight part and concavoconvexly curved edge-portion at the rear, so as to provide main planes of greater width near the main body than at the outer free end-portions of the planes, a trussed framework connected with and extending forwardly from each pair of said main planes, a series of small and immovably fixed planes mounted upon each trussed frame-work, and a raising and lowering plane oscillatorily mounted between the planes of each series of said small and immovably fixed planes 8. In a flying machine, a main body, and main planes extending laterally on opposite sides of said main body, immovably fixed and horizontally disposed auxiliary balancing planes at the rear end-portion of said main body and at each side thereof, said auxiliary balancing planes being of quadrangular configuration, two marginal-edges of which are parallel and another of its marginal edges being of concave curvature, and oscillatory raising and lowering planes located upon one side of each balancing plane and normally in the horizontal planes of the balancing planes and cooperating wlthsaid balancing planes, and one of the marginal edges of each oscillatory raising and lowering plane also being of concave curvature,

'spective raising and lowering planes at the the curve of each raising and lowering plane marginal edges being ofconcave curvature,

and a plurality of-triangularly shaped 0scillatory raising and" lowering planes located upon one side ofeach balancing. plane and normally in the horizontal planes of the balancing planes and'cooperating with said balancing planes, and one of the marginal edges of each oscillatory raisingand lower-' ing plane also being of concave curvature, the curve of each raising and lowering plane being a continuation of the curve of the corresponding quadrangular balancing plane;

10. In a flying machine, a main body, and a pair of main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, a trussed-framework connected with and extending forwardly from each pair of said main planes, and an 05- cillatory raising and lowering plane mounted upon each trussed frame-work, combined with immovably fixed auxiliary balancing planes at the rear end-portion of said main body and at each side thereof, oscillatory raising and lowering planes located upon one side of each balancing plane and cooperating with said balancing planes, and means under the control of an operator in said main body and connected with the 'respective raising and lowering planes at the front and rear of the flying machine for simultaneously operating all of saidv raising and lowering planes; r

11. .In a flying machine, a main body, and a pair of main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, a trussed frame-work connected with and extending forwardly from each pair of said main'planes, and an oscillatory raising andlowe'ring plane mounted upon each "trussed frame-work, combined with immovably fixed auxiliary balancing lanes at the rear end-portion of said main body and at each side thereof, oscillatory raising and lowering planes located upon one side of each balancing plane and cooperating with said balancing planes, and means under the control of an operator in said main body, and connected with the re- --main body front and rear of the flying machine for-simultaneously operating all of said raising and lowering planes, and an indicator cooperating with said plane-operating means 'for indicating the angular positions of said raising and lowering planes.

12. In a flying machine, a main body, and a pair 9f main planes upon each side of said main body and extending laterally on each side of said body, atrussed frame-work connected with and aextending forwardly from each pair of said main planes, a series of small and immovably fixed planes mounted upon each trussed frame-work, and a raising and lowering plane oscillatorily mounted between the planes of each series of said small and immovably fixed planes, combined with immovably fixed auxiliary balancing planes at therear end-portion'of saidfmain body and at each side thereof, oscillatory raising and lowering planes located upon one side of each balancing lane-and cooperating withsaid balancing p anes, and :means under the control of an operator in said main body and connected with the respective-raising and lowering planes at the front and rear ofthe flying machine for simultaneously operating all of said raising and lowering planes.

1 13. In a flying machine, a pair of main planes upon each side of said and extending laterally on each side of said body, a trussed frame-work connected with and extending forwardly from each pair of said main planes, aseries of small and immovably fixed planes mounted upon each trussed frame-work, and a raising and lowering plane oscillatorily mounted between the planes of each series of said small and immovably fixed planes, combined with immovably fixed auxiliary balancing planes at the rear -end-portion of said main body and at each side'thereof, oscillatory raising and lowering planes located upon one side of each balancing plane and cooperating with a main body, and

said balancing planes, and means under the control of an operator-in said main body and connected with the respective raising and lowering planes at the front and rear of the flying machine vfor simultaneously operating all of said raising and lowering planes, and

an indicator cooperating with said planeoperating means for indicating the angular positions of said raising and lowering planes.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto'set my hand this 11th day of July- 1913. v

MATTIA' PERROTTA.

' Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZ L,

FREDK. H. W. Fn'AENTznL; 

